# Scene III explained — King Lear

> Chapter companion for King Lear by William Shakespeare.

## What happens

Edgar, having escaped the hunt for his life, decides to disguise himself as a mad beggar, adopting the persona of 'Poor Tom' to survive.

## Themes in this chapter

### Appearance vs. Reality

Edgar deliberately adopts a false appearance as a mad beggar to hide his true identity.

### Madness and Insight

Edgar feigns madness as a survival strategy, blurring the line between sanity and insanity.

## Character check-ins

### Edgar

Edgar resolves to disguise himself as a Bedlam beggar to evade capture.

## Key lines

> I heard myself proclaim’d; And by the happy hollow of a tree Escaped the hunt.

I heard that I have been declared an outlaw, and I only escaped the search party by hiding in a tree hollow.

_Edgar explains how he narrowly avoided capture._

> To take the basest and most poorest shape That ever penury, in contempt of man, Brought near to beast: my face I’ll grime with filth; Blanket my loins: elf all my hair in knots; And with presented nakedness out-face The winds and persecutions of the sky.

I will adopt the lowest, most wretched appearance that poverty has ever reduced a man to, almost like an animal: I will dirty my face, wrap a blanket around my waist, tangle my hair, and face the elements nakedly.

_Edgar describes his plan to disguise himself as a beggar._

> Poor Turlygod! poor Tom! That’s something yet: Edgar I nothing am.

Poor Turlygod! Poor Tom! That at least is something; as Edgar, I am nothing.

_Edgar adopts the name 'Poor Tom' as his new identity, abandoning his former self._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/king_lear_se/chapters/act-ii-scene-iii
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/king_lear_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/king_lear_se/chapters